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2019 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1700 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Landes
Referrals for Employment Services (language only)

Item 329 #7h

Item 329 #7h

Health and Human Resources
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Language

Page 368 after line 44, insert:

Q.1. The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall make referrals to any such employment services organization that provides competitive or commensurate wages and is eligible to receive state-funded Long-Term Employment Support Services or Extended Employment Services. The Department shall develop and implement a referral process for individuals who make an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department. Such referral process shall require that whenever an individual makes an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department, the Department shall refer the individual to an eligible employment services organization that provides the employment services sought by the individual within 15 days. Upon making such referrals, the Department shall provide to the employment services organization, in writing, (i) a referral letter that includes the skills, likes, dislikes, and desired outcome of the individual seeking services; (ii) certification that the individual made an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department; and (iii) the contact information of the individual seeking services. The Department shall also provide to the individual seeking services, in writing, (a) the contact information of the employment services organization to which the individual is referred and (b) information and advice regarding the services available at such employment services organization that will help the individual to prepare for, secure, maintain, or regain employment in accordance with the provisions of this section and applicable federal law and regulations.

B. The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall provide training to all vocational rehabilitation counselors immediately upon employment and annually thereafter regarding the referral process established in paragraph A.  The Department may use up to $50,000 in unobligated funds from the Long-Term Employment Support Services (LTESS) or Extended Employment Services (EES) programs to fund the training costs, if necessary. Remaining unobligated funds shall be reappropriated to fund LTESS or EES services for individuals who make an informed choice to pursue an appropriate employment outcome those individuals."



Explanation

(This amendment adds language clarifying that the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall develop a referral process for individuals who make an informed choice to pursue an employment outcome that is not considered a competitive integrated employment setting by the Department. Language specifies information to be shared with employment services organizations for such cases. Language requires the agency to provide training to all vocational rehabiliation counselors annually and allows the use of up to $50,000 in unobligated funds from the the Long-Term Employment Support Services (LTESS) or Extended Employment Services (EES) programs to fund the training costs with the remainder to be used for employment services.)